Pet Dental Care in Olathe & Overland Park, KS
Dog Dental Exam
Protecting your pet's oral health through thorough oral examinations, in-house digital dental X-rays, and treatment plans built around the findings.
Comprehensive Oral Exam
What Is a Dental Exam?
A dental exam is a structured evaluation of your dog's teeth, gums, tongue, palate, and inner cheeks, performed while your dog is awake in the exam room. The veterinarian assesses plaque and tartar accumulation, gum inflammation, fractured or loose teeth, and any abnormal tissue, then assigns a dental disease grade and explains the findings.
The exam determines every subsequent step in dental care: whether a professional cleaning is needed, whether dental X-rays are needed, and whether any tooth has deteriorated beyond saving. Most owners learn of a dental problem at this exam, typically before any symptoms are evident at home.
By age three, most dogs show some degree of periodontal disease.
It is the most prevalent disease in adult dogs, and in its early stages it is fully reversible. The dental exam is where it gets identified.
During the Visit
What We Check
Six areas are examined at every visit.
- Plaque and tartarHow much has built up, and how far below the gumline it has spread.
- GumsRedness, swelling, bleeding, and gum recession around the roots.
- Each toothFractures, worn or discolored teeth, and anything loose or missing.
- Soft tissueThe tongue, palate, and cheeks for masses, ulcers, or anything that shouldn't be there.
- Bite and jawHow the teeth meet, and any pain or clicking when the mouth opens.
- Breath and historyBad breath, dropped food, chewing changes, and what you've noticed at home.
Two Kinds of Exam
Awake Exam vs. Exam Under Anesthesia
Dental exams do not include a dental cleaning. While the patient is awake, the veterinarian determines whether a cleaning is necessary. The complete assessment and the cleaning itself take place under anesthesia.
Awake Oral Examination
- Included in every wellness visit, or scheduled on its own
- Visual assessment of the teeth, gums, and soft tissue
- Periodontal disease graded on a 0 to 4 scale
- Treatment recommendation and written estimate provided
Limitations: it cannot evaluate below the gumline, probe individual teeth, or fully assess the back molars.
Complete Oral Health Assessment
- Each tooth probed and charted individually
- Digital dental X-rays of the roots and surrounding bone
- Scaling and polishing above and below the gumline
- Extractions performed only with your prior approval
In veterinary dentistry this is called a COHAT, a comprehensive oral health assessment and treatment. When the awake exam finds disease, this is the next step.
Dental Disease Grades
Grading Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is graded on a scale from 0 to 4. The grade converts a general observation into a specific treatment plan.
| Grade | What we see | What it usually means |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Clean teeth, healthy pink gums | Home care and a recheck at the next wellness visit. |
| 1 | Mild plaque, slight redness along the gumline | Gingivitis. Fully reversible with a cleaning and brushing at home. |
| 2 | Tartar buildup, swollen gums, early bone loss on X-ray | Cleaning under anesthesia with X-rays. Teeth can still be saved. |
| 3 | Heavy tartar, gum recession, moderate bone loss | Cleaning plus likely extractions. Pain is present even if your dog is eating. |
| 4 | Loose teeth, exposed roots, infection | Multiple extractions. Infection at this stage can affect the heart, liver, and kidneys. |
Exam Schedule
How Often a Dog Needs a Dental Exam
Once a year for most dogs, as part of the annual wellness visit. Some dogs need it sooner.
Puppies, under 1 year
Checking the bite
We look for retained baby teeth, crowding, and jaw alignment. Retained teeth are usually removed at the spay or neuter.
Adults, 1 to 7 years
Once a year
Tartar starts forming as early as age two. Small breeds and flat-faced breeds build it faster and often need exams every six months.
Seniors, 7 and up
Every six months
Dental disease moves faster in older dogs, and seniors are the group most likely to need extractions. Catching it early keeps the procedure smaller.
No Financial Surprises
What a Dental Exam Costs
An awake dental exam is included in your dog's wellness visit, or booked as a standard exam on its own. If the exam finds disease, you leave with a written estimate for the cleaning before anything is scheduled.
The estimate covers
- Pre-anesthetic bloodwork
- Anesthesia and monitoring
- Dental X-rays
- Scaling and polishing
- Any extractions the X-rays confirm
- Take-home medication
Cherry payment plans split the cost into installments, often at 0% APR. We also accept CareCredit and All Pet Card.
Dog Dental Exams
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in a comprehensive oral exam?
A visual check of the teeth, gums, tongue, palate, and cheeks, a dental disease grade from 0 to 4, and a conversation about what you've noticed at home. If we find disease, you get a recommendation and a written estimate for treatment.
Does a dental exam include a cleaning?
No. The awake exam is how we decide whether a cleaning is needed. The cleaning itself, with X-rays and a full tooth-by-tooth assessment, happens under anesthesia on a separate visit.
How long does a dog dental exam take?
A few minutes inside a standard exam appointment. Your dog is awake the whole time.
How much does a dental exam cost?
It's part of the standard exam fee, whether that's a wellness visit or a sick visit. The cleaning that may follow is quoted separately, in writing, before it's scheduled.
What if I can't afford the treatment the exam recommends?
Tell us. Cherry payment plans split the cost into installments, often at 0% APR, and we accept CareCredit and All Pet Card. Grade 1 and 2 disease can also wait a short time without getting dramatically worse, which gives you room to plan.
What is the most common dental disease in dogs?
Periodontal disease. Most dogs have some degree of it by age three. It starts as reversible gingivitis and, left alone, destroys the bone holding the teeth in place.
At what age do dogs get tartar?
Plaque starts within hours of eating. It hardens into tartar within days, and visible buildup is common by age two, earlier in small breeds.
How do I know if my dog is in dental pain?
Dogs rarely stop eating. Look for bad breath, chewing on one side, dropping food, pawing at the face, or pulling away when you touch the muzzle. Any of these is a reason to book an exam.
Our Reviews
Hear From Our Community
When Was Your Dog's Last Dental Exam?
If it has been more than a year, or you have noticed bad breath or a change in chewing, book an exam and find out where things stand.